A Viagra melanoma lawsuit may be an option for men who were diagnosed with skin cancer after taking the drug. Lawsuits allege a link between the widely prescribed erectile dysfunction medication and the development of melanoma, which is an invasive and often fatal form of skin cancer. Affected men and their families are seeking compensation for injuries and death with the help of a Viagra cancer lawsuit attorney.
For more information, contact Attorney Group today. Our consultations are free, confidential and without any obligation on your part. We can help answer your questions, and if you choose to pursue a claim we can connect you with an affiliated attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process.
What is Viagra?
Viagra (sildenafil citrate) is often called the little blue pill due to its coloring and size and is used to treat erectile dysfunction. As Medical News Today explains, its original purpose was to help people with angina pectoris and hypertension, but early trials showed a remarkable propensity to help men with erectile dysfunction. The current thinking from many doctors is that Viagra has no benefit for people who do not have erectile dysfunction.
Potential side effects of taking Viagra include vision impairment, hearing impairment and heart attack, especially in men who have heart problems or other issues such as kidney disease. Because Viagra is so popular, even among “younger” men, as WebMD explains, some are starting to use it recreationally. Pfizer states that it does not promote the drug for such use.
Melanoma Explained
Skin cancer is the most common kind of cancer, and melanoma, which is typically, but not always, a form of skin cancer, can prove deadly. In fact, the Melanoma Research Foundation says that 10,000 Americans die from melanoma every year. Melanoma is fairly easy to diagnose, and medical professionals can do it by sight. When early diagnosis occurs, treatment is frequently successful. However, if the cancer is not caught early, melanoma may spread to organs such as the brain, lungs and liver, and even the bones.
The American Cancer Society claims that the rates of melanoma have been increasing for the past three decades and the likelihood of developing the disease continues to climb with advancing age. The estimates for 2016 are that melanoma will cause the deaths of around 10,000 people and will be diagnosed in 76,000 new cases.
Although melanoma is often classified as skin cancer, it can develop on any surface such as the mouth, nails or feet. About 90 percent of melanoma cases are attributed to sunlight and UV exposure, and now it seems that there may be a possible link between melanoma and Viagra.
Viagra and Melanoma
One study identified a possible link between Viagra and melanoma. According to NBC News, the average study participant was 65 years old, and 6 percent of participants had used Viagra to help with erectile dysfunction. Even after including other risk factors such as skin cancer in the family and sun exposure, researchers identified men who took Viagra to be at a greater risk of melanoma. The risk of developing other types of skin cancers did not change.
Viagra Melanoma Lawsuit
A woman in Illinois is seeking to hold Pfizer accountable for the death of her husband. She is claiming in a Viagra melanoma lawsuit that Pfizer did not inform users of Viagra of the melanoma risk. She is also alleging that this led to her husband developing the cancer after using the drug over a seven-year period. The woman argues that if her husband had known of the risks associated with Viagra, he would have limited his usage in duration and dosage. She alleges negligence, liability, breach of implied and express warranty, fraud, misrepresentation, fraudulent concealment, gross negligence and violation of consumer protection laws. She seeks punitive damages in excess of $50,000, plus attorneys’ fees and costs.
How A Viagra Melanoma Lawsuit Can Help
Drug manufacturers have a duty to ensure their products are accompanied by full and accurate instructions and warnings to guide prescribing doctors and other health care providers in making treatment decisions. If a drug maker fails to fulfill this duty, it could be held liable in lawsuits for injuries that may result.
Patients who are injured by Viagra may be entitled to compensation for damages, including:
- Medical expenses
- The permanency of the injury
- Pain, suffering, and mental anguish
- Loss of income or ability to work
If a patient dies from complications after taking Viagra, family members may be entitled to compensation for the wrongful death of their loved one, including:
- Conscious pain and suffering of a loved one prior to death
- Pain, suffering, and mental anguish from the loss of a loved one
- Funeral expenses
Patients who have suffered severe side effects after taking Viagra, as well as the families of those who have died as a result of complications with the drug, are encouraged to seek the advice of an Viagra melanoma lawyer to learn more about their rights and remedies.
The time you have to pursue a claim is limited. Contact us for more information.Get Help Now.
For more information, contact Attorney Group. You can fill out the form on this page, call us at the number listed at the top of the page, or email us at info@attorneygroup.com.
When you contact us, an attorney will follow up with you to speak with you about your case or answer questions that you might have. There is no cost or obligation to speak with us, and any information you provide will be kept confidential.
Please note that the law limits the time you have to pursue a claim or file a lawsuit for an injury. If you think you have a case, you should not delay taking action.
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